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50 Tricky 'What Am I' Riddles for Kids and Adults

By Kelsey Kryger,

1 day ago

Who doesn't love a good riddle? The only thing we can think of that's better than one riddle is a list of 50 "What Am I" riddles ! Riddles have been a source of entertainment for ages, and they never go out of style. There are so many different riddles and challenging questions full of clever wordplay to trick your brain.

Even the silliest of riddles can flex our brains and challenge us to think in a new way. And once you've solved the riddle yourself, sharing riddles with friends and family can be a fantastic way to bond—or play some fun tricks on them! There's nothing better than the reveal of the riddle's answer. Plus, the satisfaction of actually solving a riddle is completely unmatched.

Parade found the best 'What Am I?' riddles that are guaranteed to trick your friends and challenge your wits. Each riddle has a different difficulty level, yet are designed to be accessible for folks of all ages! Whether you fancy yourself a riddle expert or not, have some fun with these "What Am I" riddles.

Related: I Tried the 'Harvard Riddle'—the 'Hardest Riddle in the World'—on My Friends, This Is What I Found

50 What Am I Riddles

1. Bad day to be a brush owner.

I have many teeth but I can’t bite. I’m often used early but rarely at night. What am I? Answer: A comb

2. It's safe with me.

If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven’t got me. What am I?
Answer: A secret

3. Hint: some people say having more of it causes more problems.

People make me, save me, change me, raise me. What am I?
Answer: Money

4. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

I am full of holes, but I can still hold water. What am I?
Answer: A sponge

5. Don't think too hard.

I’m tall when I’m young, I’m short when I’m old. What am I?
Answer: A pencil

6. Dig, dig, dig.

The more you take away, the more I become. What am I?
Answer: A hole

7. Talk about hair care.

I shave every day, but my beard stays the same. What am I?
Answer: A barber

8. Do you hear that in the wind?

I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?
Answer: An echo

9. The class clown might tell these.

I can be cracked, I can be made. I can be told, I can be played. What am I?
Answer: A joke

10. Only you can prevent forest fires.

I have no feet, no hands and no wings, but I climb to the sky. What am I?
Answer: Smoke

11. Unlock the key to my...

You can touch me, you can break me and you should win me if you want to be mine. What am I?
Answer : Heart

12. You could get lost in one of these for hours if they're really good.

I have a spine, but no bones. What am I?
Answer: A book

13. Quite the opposite of nature-esque, in fact.

I have branches yet I have no leaves, no trunk and no fruit. What am I?
Answer: A bank

14. What are those hands good for, then?

I have hands that move but I can’t clap. What am I?
Answer: A clock

15. One might have a phobia of these.

I have one small eye but can’t see a thing. What am I?
Answer: A needle

16. French fries, anyone?

I have many eyes but can’t see. What am I?
Answer: A potato

17. Shoes off, please.

I am bought by the yard but worn by the foot. What am I?
Answer: Carpeting

18. Spin the...

I have a neck but no head. What am I?
Answer: A bottle

19. Splish, splash.

I get smaller every time I take a bath. What am I?
Answer: A bar of soap

20. Here's a tougher one for you riddle experts.

I have keys, but no locks. I have space, but no room. You can enter, but it won’t get you inside. What am I?
Answer: A keyboard.

21. There are two possible answers to this one.

I am answered all the time, but never ask a question. What am I?
Answer: A door or a phone

22. I have questions.

I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?
Answer: A map

23. Is it getting hot in here?

I am not alive, but I grow; I don't have lungs, but I need air; I don't have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?
Answer: Fire

24. You might find this in an old-school classroom.

I am white when I am dirty, and black when I am clean. What am I?
Answer: A blackboard

25. It's one of the most powerful tools we have.

I am as light as a feather, yet no man can hold me for long. What am I?
Answer: Breath

26. Enjoy this advanced 'What Am I?' riddle.

I am the beginning of the end and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?
Answer: The letter E

27. Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear.

Look in my face, I am somebody. Look in my back, I am nobody. What am I?
Answer: Mirror

28. Quite the romantic.

I can't be bought, but I can be stolen with a glance. I'm worthless to one, but priceless to two. What am I?
Answer: Love

29. Everybody's favorite vegetable.

You use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I am dead. What am I?
Answer: An onion

30. Seems like a waste of needles.

I have a thousand needles but I do not sew. What am I?
Answer: A porcupine

31. Stay classy.

Four fingers and a thumb, Yet flesh and blood, I have none. What am I?
Answer: A glove

32. White picket?

I run all around the house but never move. What am I?
Answer: A fence

33. Trick riddle! Let's see if you can get this one right.

I act like a cat, I look like a cat, yet I am not a cat. What am I?
Answer: A kitten

34. How is that possible?

I am wet when drying. What am I?
Answer: A towel.

35. Wordplay is fun.

Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I?
Answer: Ton

36. Sounds exhausting.

I run in and out of town all day and night. What am I?
Answer: A road

37. Don't forget to spit out the seeds.

You go at red but stop at green. What am I?
Answer: Watermelon

38. Today is a mystery...

You will always find me in the past. I can be created in the present, But the future can never taint me. What am I?
Answer: History

39. You might sew with this item.

I'm found in socks, scarves and mittens. I'm found in the paws of playful kittens. What am I?
Answer: Yarn

40. Teach me your ways.

I can travel around the world while staying in a corner. What am I?
Answer: A stamp

41. We're not yolking around.

I am useless when together but useful when I am broken apart. What am I?
Answer: An egg

42. Steep it well.

I go in dry and come out wet, the longer I'm in, the stronger I get. What am I?
Answer: A tea bag

43. Rain, rain, go away.

I fly without wings. I cry without eyes. Whenever I go, darkness flies. What am I?
Answer: A cloud

44. This is an object found all around your house that you may not think twice about.

When I point up, it's bright. When I point down, it's dark. What am I?
Answer: A light switch

45. Calling all snails.

They fill me up and you empty me, almost everyday; if you raise my arm, I work the opposite way. What am I?
Answer: A mailbox

46. Hint: it's a natural body of water.

I have a bed but never sleep. I have a mouth but never eat. What am I?
Answer: A river

47. Spill the tea!

I have a big mouth and I am also quite loud. I am not a gossip, but I do get involved with everyone's dirty business. What am I?
Answer: A vacuum cleaner

48. More wordplay for all you jokesters.

I am an odd number. Take away one letter, and I become even. What am I?
Answer: Seven

49. Found in your toolbox.

I can be long or short. I can be grown or bought. I can be painted or left bare. I can be round or square. What am I?
Answer: A nail

50. Just keep climbing.

The more of these you take, the more appear behind you. What am I?
Answer: Steps

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